After the last snakelings had been rounded up and put to bed, the exhausted couple snuck outside for a moment alone. “Is it okay to leave them by themselves?” Drake asked.

Gigi waved her hand in dismissal of the concern. “If one gets up, don’t worry. They always find you.” Gigi looked out over the horizon and saw the faintest embers of dawn crackling. Drake followed her gaze, and his face lit up.

“It’s almost daybreak, let’s watch!” he exclaimed.

Gigi grinned and nodded. They found a hill near the old farmhouse's back deck to settle down and share the sunrise. They sat in the dewy grass in cozy stillness, looking out at the crops marching into the twilight and listening to the birdsong beginning to wind to life. Gigi sat with her thoughts.

“What vegetable do you think I would be?” asked Gigi.

Drake took in the question. Appearing to think it over with gravity, then he smiled and laughed. “A green bean!” he said, chuckling to himself.

Gigi didn’t know why, but she felt a little insulted. “Oh yeah, well, you would be a potato!” she stuck out her tongue.

“That’s not so bad. You love those,” he said, turning slightly red. She did the same.

A topic had been plaguing Gigi’s mind all night. She still hadn’t told him she hadn’t decided if she wanted children. Seeing him tonight made this problem feel like a boil desperately needing to be lanced. It felt pressing for some reason to choose one way or the other. Drake had a way with kids, so she didn’t doubt he would be a devoted father. If she decided she didn’t want them, she would feel she was denying him his dreams, but what if it wasn’t hers? If whatever they had was going to work, they needed to nip this in the bud. She needed to know he wanted to be with her even if they didn’t have kids.

She put her hand on his in the soft grass. Gigi sighed. This was going to be hard. “Drake...I think we need to talk.”

Drake frowned slightly. “I don’t like the sound of that. Am I going back to the attic?” he laughed.

She smiled weakly, but her ears lowered. Gigi felt her insides gnashing, and she hadn’t even said anything. “You know how you want to be a good father?”

“Yeah...did I do something wrong with the kids?”

“No, no. You were great. I just don't know if I can give that life to you,” she said pensively.

“Because we’re different, erm, races?”

Does Drake think we can’t have kids? She was becoming confused. Her brow furrowed. Had she never told him that they could? I guess why would I have?

“Well yeah, that is true-” she was cut off.

“It’s okay,” he smiled. “I kind of assumed we couldn’t because of that.”

“Really?” she asked gobsmacked. He nodded. “But don’t you want them?”

“Well… I was thinking maybe we could take in one down the line.”

“Uh, they aren’t cats, Drake,” she laughed.

He grinned and shook his head. “You know what I mean. Adopt? I’ve been helping out at this orphanage. There are a lot of cute kids. Maybe one of them someday?” he offered hopefully.

Gigi looked away from his pleading blue eyes, a great heaviness in her chest. “What if I don’t want to adopt? What if I want it to be the two of us forever?” she asked dolefully. She met his eyes again, expecting to see heartache, but saw only placid icy blue.

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“I would be lying if I told you I don’t dream of having a family with you, Gigi,” he said, blushing. He looked from the horizon to her. “When I picture it, I imagine us having a little girl, a little you, even if it’s impossible,” he laughed and shrugged. “Even if you don’t want kids, I want to be with you, Gigi, for the rest of my life. I know I’ve never wanted anything more.” He leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.

She kissed him back with force. Hearing that he would be by her side, whether they had children or not, made her heart soar. To her, it meant he loved her for her, not what she could give him. It felt like gravity had lessened, and a weight had floated off her shoulders. She pulled back from him. She could feel herself growing warm despite the chill in the air. He dreams of us having a family. Her heart fluttered. She hadn’t realized how much thought he had put into this.

Her gaze met his once more. “Drake…what if I told you we can have kids, goblins, and humans.”

He opened his mouth, but he didn’t say anything. “Is that true?” he asked hopefully.

She nodded. “From what my Mom told me and Secco’s books said, we could, so I think we can. I guess when a goblin woman has children with non-goblins, they only have girls, though. I don’t know why, but that’s how it is,” she said, playing with her hair nervously.

“We would have a little girl?”

“We would…” Gigi looked away, unsure what else to say. She was starting to feel uncomfortably hot.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” she dreaded, whatever would come next.

“It’s okay not to want kids, Gigi. I just wanted to know if there is a reason you are so hesitant. The idea itself seems to bother you. ”

She bit her lip. It wasn’t that she knew she was sure she didn’t want them. They just seemed so binding. Yeah, they were cute, but they constantly needed things, and you needed to ensure they got them. You had to make sure they didn’t kill themselves by accident, and she knew from her siblings how truly challenging that could be. Children took so much from you. Still, despite herself, she looked beside Drake and imagined a small third party among them.

Gigi wasn’t sure if the tiny hugs and adoration in their eyes would be worth the sacrifices. They could have been, but if they weren’t, she would be trapped. Yet, she wondered if their daughter could have Drake’s eyes even if they were destined to look like a little version of her. She hoped they would. Maybe they would even be blonde? What am I saying?! She snapped back to the present.

“It’s just I saw how hard things were for my parents…how much they gave up for us.” She turned her gaze from their imaginary child to Drake. “I just don’t know if it’s worth it. I want to know…but I’m not sure.”

Drake nodded. He stretched out and looked at the sky. “I don’t think it is worth it for everyone.” He reached up and grabbed at the cloud in the orange sky. “I think for me, it would be. The idea of becoming someone’s hero, and then actually being it, makes the world seem…a little brighter.”

The pit dropped out of Gigi’s stomach. He said it so quickly because he knew his truth. She envied his confidence. Frustration mounted inside of her. She wasn’t sure if she loved Drake and had no idea if she wanted her future to have a family. Gigi pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. Her ears drooped. Why am I like this? Why can’t I just know like everybody else?

Drake looked at her, then got to his knees when he saw her distress. “Gigi, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad. Just know, whatever you decide, I’ll be here.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. It was warm and comforting. She leaned in to kiss him back when they both heard a cry from the house. One of the children had woken up, and the entire cadre was awake in a cascade of cries.

“Duty calls,” Drake said. He was about to stand when Gigi put her hand on his arm.

“I got it. You enjoy the sunrise.”

“Are you sure?” Drake asked skeptically. “I don’t mind really.”

“No, I got it.” She stood and kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll make you a deal.” Drake perked up. “Why don’t I meet your orphans and give it my best shot, goblin’s honor.” She crossed her heart with her finger. “First, we have a romantic trip to the baths, just the two of us?”

“Like the bath at home?” he asked, confused.

“No, the bathhouse. It’s like a giant public space with statutes, baths, and incense. It’s amazing!”

Drake smiled and laughed. “Let’s do it.” He got to his feet with her.

“I said I’ll do it,” Gigi protested.

Drake shrugged. “A sunrise without you isn’t worth seeing. Let’s both go in.” He took the speechless Gigi’s hand, and they walked toward the farmhouse.